Well... there's double bass and double bass... guys like Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham or Louie Bellson are not doing it for the sport, they're doing it for the music... oh, and Steve Gadd use a double pedal BTW :)

But I know what you mean... however, you can't generalise double bass drumming, some's brilliant and some ... not so brilliant.

Yes, agreed. But SG is not trying to be the fastest either. I fully agree that double bass can be cool and interesting musically, but who is fastest is the notion I don't care for or see much value in....but yes, your point is well taken